Applicants to the PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering who are non-native English speakers are required to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Requirements
Revised June 2026
If an exam score is required, the HCDE Department only accepts the ToEFLiBT, IELTS, and Duolingo exams.
Minimum score considered for admission to the HCDE Ph.D. program
- TOEFLiBT: Total 4.5 (92 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026)
- IELTS: Total 7
- Duolingo: Total 130
Due to a new policy change on the graduate-school level, we cannot accept MyBest scores for TOEFL.
The formats we accept are: TOEFL iBT (at test center or at home), Academic IELTS (at test center or at home), and Duolingo.
This exam requirement is waived if the applicant holds a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution where all instruction is in English. Refer to Policy 3.2.1 for additional information. However, please also read below about the additional requirements for Teaching Assistant employment.
Additional conditions for Teaching Assistant (TA) employment
The HCDE Funding Guarantee for HCDE PhD students will include opportunities to teach as a TA.
HCDE PhD graduate students who are not native speakers of English must meet the criteria in Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English to receive an employment offer as a TA.
According to Policy 5.2, this means satisfying these requirements:
The following 3 requirements must be satisfied before receiving the graduate appointment with teaching duties.
- Meet the English language proficiency (ELP) requirement as stated in Policy 3.2.
- Meet the additional spoken English language proficiency requirement in one of the five following ways:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an regionally accredited institution in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Canada, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, the United States, or the Virgin Islands, where English is the medium of instruction. While enrolled at the degree-granting school, the student must have been in residence in the English-speaking country.
- Hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States where English is the medium of instruction.
- Demonstrate spoken English proficiency with a test score on file at the University of Washington of at least:
- 5 (or 26 for exams taken prior to January 21, 2026) on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT (Test Center or At-Home version)
- 7.0 on the speaking section of the IELTS (Test Center or At-Home version)
- 140 on the Duolingo English Test (DET) Conversation score. [Note: Less than 10% of DET test takers receive a 140 or above; 2025 data from DuoLingo]
- Pass a one-time spoken English proficiency assessment with UW staff.
- For students who have been offered or accepted admission and who have satisfied the recommended English proficiency requirements, without conditions, as stated in Policy 3.2.2, a graduate program may submit an online request for a one-time spoken English proficiency assessment if the student meets one of the following prerequisites:
- 4.5 (or 23-25 for exams taken prior to January 21, 2026) on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT on file with the UW.
- 6.0-6.5 on the speaking section of the IELTS on file with the UW.
- 125 on the speaking or conversation section of the Duolingo DET on file with the UW.
- The completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at a university where English is the medium of instruction.
- A candidate must receive an overall score of 34 (out of a possible 45) points to be immediately eligible to assume TA responsibilities without taking ENGL 105. Assessment scores expire after two years.
- For students who have been offered or accepted admission and who have satisfied the recommended English proficiency requirements, without conditions, as stated in Policy 3.2.2, a graduate program may submit an online request for a one-time spoken English proficiency assessment if the student meets one of the following prerequisites:
- Pass English 105. This course is designed specifically for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) and is offered by UW’s Academic English Program (AEP). While a student is completing spoken English language proficiency requirements, that student can be assigned teaching duties that do not include direct interaction with students. Such duties can include, but are not limited to, grading, setting up labs, preparing instructional materials, and running equipment in classrooms.
- TAs who are not native speakers of English as indicated in the applicant profile and do not hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States are required to participate in additional TA-specific training from the Center for Teaching & Learning prior to the TA appointment. [Note: See the Center for Teaching and Learning’s Teaching@UW: Strategies for TAs for details; this training is recommended for all TAs.]
Other information
Test scores must have been obtained within the last two years. This is a UW Graduate Admissions rule and is not flexible. Contact the HCDE academic advising office if official scores were submitted to UW prior to the last two years.
It may take several weeks for TOEFL scores to show as being "received" by the University of Washington. After applying, periodically log-in to your application profile to check the status of the scores.
The TOEFL institutional code is 4854. If a department code is required, use 99. Applicants using IELTS test scores must submit official scores electronically via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s organization ID 365, or selecting "University of Washington - all campuses." An offer of admission cannot be extended prior to the receipt of official scores.